Suctioning device for a machine tool

ABSTRACT

A suction device for a power tool, in particular for a drilling and/or chipping tool, has at least one dust container and at least one suction head to be placed on a workpiece, wherein the dust container is integrated in the suction head.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

The invention described and claimed hereinbelow is also described inGerman Patent Application DE 103 46 207.4 filed on Oct. 6, 2003. ThisGerman Patent Application provides the basis for a claim of priority ofinvention under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a suction device for a power tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Suction devices for suctioning away material removed during themachining of work pieces, in particular drill dust and drill cuttingsthat accumulate when working with a drilling and/or chipping tool, arewidespread. The removed material should be suctioned away and capturedas close as possible to the site of origin to prevent it from spreadingin the surroundings, in particular in living spaces.

A suction device for a drilling and/or chipping tool with a dustcontainer and a suction head to be placed on a work piece that forms thegeneral class is made known in US 005 113 951 A.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on a suction device for a power tool, inparticular for a drilling and/or chipping tool, with at least one dustcontainer and at least one suction head to be placed on a work piece.

It is proposed that the dust container be integrated in the suctionhead. This allows the removed, suctioned-away material to be captured assoon as it is produced and prevents the removed material fromcontaminating a large partial section of the suction device, inparticular a suction fan.

The dust container is considered to be integrated in the suction head inparticular when a suction part of the suction head forms a singleone-piece unit with the dust container that is noticeably continuous inthree dimensions and, particularly advantageously, is rigidly connectedtherewith. Embodiments of the present invention are feasible, however,in which the dust container is located in a front region of a suctionduct that connects the suction part with the suction fan, and a sectionof the suction duct that is smaller than a total length of the suctionduct is located between the suction part and the dust container.Particularly advantageously, a suction device according to the presentinvention is usable with drilling and/or chipping tools. It is alsofeasible for it to be used for milling, scraping or other power toolswith which removed material is produced in a narrowly constricted area.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, this suction deviceincludes a suction unit integrated in the power tool for producing avacuum in the suction head. As a result, as compared to a power toolwith a suction device configured as an external assembly, greateroperator comfort can be achieved and a trailing connecting tube betweenthe suction unit and the power tool can be avoided.

In addition, function integration and an economical, handy andlightweight power tool can be advantageously obtained when the suctiondevice includes a cooling fan of the power tool. The cooling fan canthen advantageously perform the function of motor cooling and thefunction of the suction unit to produce a vacuum. Embodiments with aseparate cooling and suction air flow, and a continuous air flow thatperforms both functions, are also feasible. Separate cooling and suctionair flows can be achieved using separate fans—which may be located on acommon drive shaft—which are provided as separate fan wheels or whichcan be integrated in one common fan wheel, or by a realization, forexample, in which the suction air flow performs a cooling function afterit passes the cooling fan.

If the suction device includes a unit that includes at least the suctionhead and is detachably retainable on the power tool, the unit can beeasily removed to be cleaned or in particularly narrow spaces.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, it is proposed that aunit that includes the dust container be detachably retained on thepower tool. This advantageously allows the dust container to be emptiedin a comfortable manner.

Embodiments of the present invention in which the detachable unit isretainable using a snap-in connection are particularly advantageous, byway of which attachment and release of the unit are enabled in aparticularly rapid and comfortable manner. Other attachment methods, inparticular tool-free methods, are also feasible, however.

If the suction head is supported on a housing of the power tool by abearing unit such that it is displaceable along a working direction,relative motion between the suction head and a work piece can beadvantageously prevented or at least controlled in a desired manner,while the power tool moves relative to the work piece in the workingdirection. With drilling and/or chipping tools in particular, thesuction head can be retained in a region of the drilling hole on thesurface of the work piece, independently of a current depth of adrilling hole. Embodiments of the present invention in which a springmechanism returns the suction head to a home position after it has beendisplaced and then relieved of load are particularly advantageous. Ifthe bearing unit includes a depth stop, a separate device for adjustinga depth stop can be advantageously spared.

If the suction head includes at least one opening through which a toolis capable of being guided in at least one operating state, removedmaterial can be suctioned away reliably and essentially completely inthe direct vicinity of the site of its origin. If, in addition, variousdimensions can be selected for the opening, these dimensions can bematched particularly advantageously to the dimensions of the tool.Continuous selection options for the dimensions of the opening, such asslidable apertures, for example, and discrete selection options, such asreplaceable perforated disks, for example, are also feasible.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, it is proposed thatthe opening form one end of a funnel-shaped receiving area that tapersin the working direction. This provides an operator with an advantageousview of a suction site without decisively impairing the effectiveness ofthe suction device.

If the suction head also includes a duct section via which an air flowis capable of being introduced into the dust container in thecircumferential direction of the dust container, a swirling air flow canbe advantageously achieved in the interior of the dust container, andseparation of the removed material from the air flow can be supported bythe fact that turbulences are prevented, and by a centrifuge effect.

Further advantages result from the following drawing description.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. Thedrawing, description, and claims contain numerous features incombination. One skilled in the art will also advantageously considerthem individually and combine them to form further reasonablecombinations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a suction device and a power tool with a dust container anda suction head,

FIG. 2 shows a section of the suction device in FIG. 1 with a unit thathas been removed and contains the dust container,

FIG. 3 shows a further removeable unit of the suction device in FIGS. 1and 2 in a side view,

FIG. 4 shows the unit in FIG. 3, in a front view,

FIG. 5 shows a component of the suction device in FIGS. 1 through 4, anda replaceable cover plate,

FIG. 6 shows an insert, formed out of rubber, of a suction device inFIGS. 1 through 5,

FIG. 7 shows an alternative suction device and a power tool in a sideview,

FIG. 8 shows the suction device and the power tool in FIG. 7 in a topview,

FIG. 9 shows a section of a guide rod of the suction device in FIGS. 7and 8,

FIG. 10 shows a section along a line X-X of the guide rod in FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 shows an opened, rotatably supported valve and a section of asuction duct of the suction device in FIGS. 7 through 10,

FIG. 12 shows the valve in FIG. 11 in a closed configuration,

FIG. 13 shows a schematic sketch of a suction head with a suctionduct—that widens in the shape of a spiral—of the suction device in FIGS.7 through 12,

FIG. 14 shows a section along a line XIV-XIV of the suction head in FIG.13,

FIG. 15 shows a section along a line XV-XV of the suction head in FIG.13 with a filter,

FIG. 16 shows a depth stop of the suction device in FIGS. 7 through 15in a side view,

FIG. 17 shows the depth stop in FIG. 16 in a top view,

FIG. 18 shows a further alternative suction device with a handle in aview at an angle from the front,

FIG. 19 shows the suction device in FIG. 18 in a view at an angle fromthe back,

FIG. 20 shows a suction head of the suction device in FIGS. 18 and 19 ina view from below,

FIG. 21 shows the suction head in FIG. 20 in a sectional view along lineXXI-XXI,

FIG. 22 shows a dust container of the suction head in FIG. 20 and FIG.21 in a sectional view along a line XXII-XXII,

FIG. 23 shows a profile of a guide rod and a section of the handle ofthe suction device in FIGS. 20 through 23, and

FIG. 24 shows the guide rod in FIG. 23.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a power tool 10 a, an impact drill in this case, witha suction device that includes a dust container 12 a and a suction head14 a to be placed on a work piece 16 a, whereby suction head 14 aincludes a suction part 34 a and dust container 12 a, so that the latteris integrated in suction head 14 a.

In power tool 10 a, an integrated suction unit 18 a can produce a vacuumin suction head 14 a during operation. Suction unit 18 a uses a drivemotor 36 a of power tool 10 a, on shaft 38 a of which an impeller 40 adraws in an air flow from suction head 14 a via a suction duct 42 athrough a filter 44 a located in dust container 12 a and through dustcontainer 12 a and, in its function as cooling fan 20 a, directs itfurther into a housing 26 a of power tool 10 a. In suction head 14 aduring operation, air and removed material that is carried along issuctioned up through openings 30 a, 30 a′ in suction part 34 a and, viaa duct section 82 a of suction duct 42 a extending perpendicularly to aworking direction 24 a, is introduced through a duct section 82 a ofsuction duct 42 a into said dust container in a circumferentialdirection of dust container 12 a, so that swirling is produced in dustcontainer 12 a. Supported by a centrifugal effect, particles of theremoved material can separate from the air flow and become deposited onthe bottom (FIG. 5). Suction part 34 a and dust container 12 a areprovided with a plexiglass disk 70 a on a side facing work piece 16 a toenable visual inspection of the amount of removed material that hascollected in dust container 12 a.

Embodiments of the present invention with transparent partial regionslocated on sides and/or on a top side of the dust container for visualinspection purposes are feasible.

Two guide rods 46 a, 48 a that form a bearing unit extend parallel tosuction duct 42 a, the guide rods being retained at a first end on dustcontainer 12 a and being supported at a second end—as is a front ductpiece of suction duct 42 a—in tubular recesses in a retention part 50 aof suction duct 42 a such that they are displaceable in a telescopingmanner along their longitudinal extension (FIG. 4). Coil compressionsprings (not shown) in the interior of guide rods 46 a, 48 a return thesuction device to a starting configuration after it is relieved of load.As a result, suction head 14 a is also supported on housing 26 a ofpower tool 10 a such that it is displaceable along working direction 24a.

A ring is installed on guide rod 46 a that, when rotated, snaps into atoothed profile 54 a and can be released therefrom. In the snapped-instate, this ring limits the ability of guide rods 46 a, 48 a to slide ina direction opposite to working direction 24 a, whereby its end faceserves as depth stop 28 a (FIG. 3, FIG. 4). An embodiment of the presentinvention that includes a scale for measuring a drilling hole depth on aguide rod is feasible.

Retention part 50 a, front duct piece of suction duct 42 a, guide rods46 a, 48 a and suction head 14 a with dust container 12 a and suctionpart 34 a form one unit that can be removed from power tool 10 a (FIG.2). It is detachably retained on power tool 10 a using a laterallydisplaceable snap-in connection 66 a. Retention part 50 a, on its sidefacing power tool 10 a, and power tool 10 a, on its side facingretention part 50 a, each include guide rails with L-shaped profiles.For mounting, unit 22 a is slid against working direction 24 a along theguide rails onto power tool 10 a, whereby it is guided by the guiderails in the directions perpendicular to working direction 24 a. In asetpoint position, a wedge 78 a of snap-in connection 66 a that isloaded by a two-leg spring 80 a and supported such that it is laterallydisplaceable snaps into place in a corresponding snap-in element ofpower tool 10 a and fixes unit 22 a in place. To detach unit 22 a, wedge78 a of snap-in connection 66 a—which is integrally molded on aslider—can be slid out of its snap-in position.

In addition, a further unit 72 a that includes dust container 12 a andsuction part 34 a can be removed from this unit 22 a to empty dustcontainer 12 a and/or to clean or replace filter 44 a. A further snap-inconnection 68 a including a lever 74 a with a hook on one end is usedfor this purpose; when dust container 12 a is in the installed state,the lever holds a cover 52 a of dust container 12 a tightly against saiddust container, the cover being configured as a single component withthe front duct part and being joined with filter 44 a. When lever 74 aof snap-in connection 68 a is pivoted, the hook becomes disengaged andunit 72 a can be removed (FIG. 2).

Suction part 34 a is configured substantially in the shape of a can andincludes openings 30 a, 30 a′ in a base plate and a cover plate 88 a,through which said openings a tool 32 a can be guided during operation.Openings 30 a, 30 a′ each form an end of receiving regions of suctionpart 34 a that taper in the shape of a funnel in working direction 24 a,thereby advantageously enabling an operator to look through openings 30a, 30 a to a region of a drilling hole in work piece 16 a. The baseplate is formed by plexiglass disk 70 a, which can be replaced withalternative plexiglass disks (not shown) that have different dimensionswith regard for the funnel-shaped receiving region and/or with regardfor opening 30 a′, thereby enabling the selection of differentdimensions for opening 30 a′. In addition to the base plate, cover plate88 a is also designed to be replaceable (FIG. 5). Suction part 34 afurther includes an elastic insert 76 a made of rubber with slitsextending tangentially to a circumferential direction of an opening 30a″, the insert being insertable, as an option, in place of cover plate88 a and flexibly in a range of drill sizes (FIG. 6).

Alternative exemplary embodiments are shown in FIGS. 7 through 19. Inthe exemplary embodiments, components that are substantially the same inthe description are labelled with the same reference numerals, withletters a-c added to designate the various the exemplary embodiments.Furthermore, the description of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1through 6 can be referred to with regard for features andfunctionalities that are the same. The description below is limitedsubstantially to the differences from the exemplary embodiment in FIGS.1 through 6.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a power tool 10 b with an alternative suction devicethat includes a flexurally soft suction duct 42 b configured as a tube.In addition, the suction device includes a bearing unit configured as aguide rod 46 b that includes two elements with U-profiles that match upin a region to form a closed profile. A coil tension spring 56 b thatproduces a retractive force is located in the interior space of theregion of the closed profile. On the ends of said U-profiles, theelements—which are oriented in opposing directions—of guide rod 46 bwith guide elements 84 b, 86 b are connected with each other such thatthey are displaceable along a working direction 24 b, by way of whichguide rod 46 b may be slid in a telescoping manner. Guide elements 84 b,86 b are fastened to the elements of guide rod 46 b with screws 90 b, 90b′, whereby screws 90 b, 90 b′ are used simultaneously as hangers forpulling hooks of coil tension spring 56 b (FIG. 9). When the elements ofguide rod 46 b are telescoped, coil tension spring 56 b is extended andproduces a retractive force.

Guide rod 46 b can be secured to a housing 26 b of power tool 10 b usinga ring above drill chuck 64 b at a cylindrical connection point, atwhich point a handle can also be mounted.

Suction duct 42 b can be connected via a valve 58 b that is rotatablysupported in housing 26 b of power tool 10 b to a suction unit 18 bintegrated in power tool 10 b to produce a vacuum (FIGS. 11 and 12).

To produce an increased suction effect, suction head 14 b includes asuction duct 60 b that widens in a spiral-shaped manner from an opening30 b outward and empties into a dust container 12 b (FIG. 13). In theregion of opening 30 b, a side of suction head 14 b facing work piece 16b includes an opening through which an air flow is suctioned, duringhigh-speed operation, between work piece 16 b, in particular a wall, andsuction head 14 b, by way of which removed material is suctioned awaydirectly at work piece 16 b (FIGS. 14 and 15).

FIGS. 16 and 17 show a depth stop 28 b of suction device, the C-shapedbody of which grips a first element of guide rod 46 b as a clamp aroundthe U-profile and the top side of which the second element of guide rod46 b can impact. On an open side of depth stop 28 b, two legs 94 b, 94b′ of depth stop 28 b engage in the U-profile of the element of guiderod 46 b and are retained there by a coil compression spring 110 b inopposite directions in tilted positions, by way of which depth stop 28 bis prevented from sliding without releasing the tilted position ofeither of legs 94 b, 94 b′. The tilted position of legs 94 b, 94 b′ canbe released by applying pressure 98 b to one of the levers 96 b, 96 b′installed on legs 94 b, 94 b′, by way of which, via the application ofpressure 98 b, depth stop 28 b may be displaced in the direction of theapplication of pressure 98 b.

A further alternative suction device includes a handle 62 c installed ona ring for mounting the suction device on a not-shown power tool in amanner that is variable relative to an angle around working direction 24c, on which said ring a bearing unit configured as a guide rod 46 c isalso mounted (FIGS. 18 and 19). Furthermore, the ring includes areceptacle (not shown here) for a conventional depth stop configured asa separate rod. A dust container 12 c is rotatably supported in aretention region 100 c of suction head 14 c, by way of which dustcontainer 12 c is rotatable around a drilling axis relative to handle 62c when the suction device is in the installed state, and by way of whichit is possible to fit the suction device in tight-spaced drillingsituations (FIG. 20). Furthermore, dust container 12 c is detachablefrom retention region 100 c and includes flaps 102 c, 102 c′ configuredas a single component with a body of dust container 12 c that, when dustcontainer 12 c is detached from retention region 100 c, automaticallyclose dust container 12 c (FIG. 22). A dust sack 104 c is installed inan interior space of dust container 12 c and is kept open by a supportdevice 106 c.

Guide rod 46 c includes two elements with substantially C-shapedprofiles (FIG. 23) which, together, form an interior space in which acoil tension spring 56 c is located. On their ends, guide elements 92 c,92 c′ are pressed into the elements of guide rod 46 c, in which saidguide elements coil tension spring 56 c engages and on which dampingregions acting as spacers are provided that prevent coil tension spring56 c from becoming fully compressed.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Power tool 12 Dust container 14 Suction head 16 Work piece 18 Device20 Cooling fan 22 Unit 24 Working direction 26 Housing 28 Depth stop 30Opening 32 Tool 34 Suction part 36 Drive motor 38 Shaft 40 Impeller 42Suction duct 44 Filter 46 Guide rod 48 Guide rod 50 Retention part 52Cover 54 Toothed profile 56 Coil tension spring 58 Valve 60 Suction duct62 Handle 64 Drill chuck 66 Snap-in connection 68 Snap-in connection 70Plexiglass disk 72 Unit 74 Lever 76 Insert 78 Wedge 80 Two-leg spring 82Duct section 84 Guide element 86 Drive element 88 Cover plate 90 Screw92 Guide element 94 Leg 96 Lever 98 Pressure 100 Retention region 102Flap 104 Dust sack 106 Support device

1. A suction device for a power tool (10 a, 10 b) comprising a dustcontainer (12 a-12 c); a suction head (14 a-14 c) to be placed on a workpiece (16 a-16 b), wherein the dust container (12 a-12 c) is integratedin the suction head (14 a-14 c); a bearing unit (46 a-46 c, 48 a) bywhich the suction head (14 a-14 c) with the integrated dust container(12 a-12 c) is supportable on a housing (26 a-26 b) of the power tool(10 a, 10 b) such that when the bearing unit is fixedly supported on thehousing, the suction head (14 a-14 c) with the integrated dust container(12 a-12 c) is displaceable relative to the housing along a workingdirection (24 a-24 c) of the power tool, and also including a suctionduct which directs air flow from the suction head into the housing, andwherein the suction head (14 a-14 c) includes an opening through which atool bit (32 a, 32 b) drivable by the power tool is capable of beingguided in at least one operating state of the power tool.
 2. The suctiondevice as recited in claim 1, characterized by a suction unit (18 a-18b) integrated in the power tool (10 a, 10 b) for producing a vacuum inthe suction head (14 a-14 c).
 3. The suction device as recited in claim2, wherein the suction device (18 a 18 b) includes a cooling fan (20 a,20 b) of the power tool (10 a, 10 b).
 4. The suction device as recitedin claim 1, characterized by an additional unit (22 a-22 c) thatincludes the bearing unit (46 a-46 c, 48 a) for supporting the suctionhead (14 a-14 c) on a housing (26 a, 26 b) of the power tool (10 a, 10b) and is capable of being detachably retained on the power tool (10a,10 b).
 5. The suction device as recited in claim 4, wherein theadditional unit (22 a-22 c) is retainable on the power tool (10 a, 10 b)using a snap-in connection.
 6. A suction device as recited in claim 4,wherein a filter (44 a) is mounted on said bearing unit (46 a, 48 a). 7.A suction device as defined in claim 4, wherein the bearing unit isformed by guide rods (46 a-46 c, 48 a).
 8. The suction device as recitedin claim 1, wherein the bearing unit (46 a-46 c, 48 a) includes a depthstop.
 9. The suction device as recited in claim 1, wherein variousdimensions can be selected for the opening (30 a′-30 c′) by selectingfrom replaceable portions of the suction head that have differentdimensions.
 10. The suction device as recited in claim 1, wherein theopening (30 a-30 c) forms one end of a funnel-shaped receiving area thattapers in the working direction (24 a-24 c).
 11. The suction device asrecited in claim 1, wherein an air stream is capable of being introducedinto the dust container (12 a) through a duct section (82 a) of thesuction head (14 a) in a circumferential direction of the dust container(12 a).
 12. A suction device as recited in claim 1, wherein the suctionhead (14 a-14 c) has a suction part (34 a-34 c) which forms a singleunit (72 a-72 c) with the dust container (12 a-12 c).
 13. A suctiondevice as recited in claim 12, further comprising a second unit (22 a-22c), wherein said single unit (72 a-72 c) is detachably retained on saidsecond unit (22 a-22 c).
 14. A suction device as recited in claim 13,wherein said second unit (22 a, 22 c) is capable of being detachablyretained on the power tool (10 a, 10 b).
 15. A suction device as recitedin claim 13, wherein said single unit (72 a-72 c) can be fixed by asnap-in connection (68 a) at a side of said second unit (22 a-22 c)facing the work place.
 16. A suction device as recited in claim 12,wherein air and removed material which are suctioned up through openings(30 a, 30 a-30 c) in the suction part (34 a-34 c) are introducedperpendicularly to the working direction (24 a) via a duct section (82a) into the dust container (12 a-12 c).
 17. A suction device as recitedin claim 1, wherein the suction head (14 a-14 c) has a suction part (34a-34 c) which forms with the dust container (12 a-12 c) a one-pieceunit.
 18. A suction device as recited in claim 1; further comprisingconnecting means for removably connecting the suction head with theintegrated dust container to the bearing unit.
 19. A suction device asdefined in claim 18, wherein said connecting means comprise a lever witha hook.
 20. A suction device as defined in claim 1, and furthercomprising connecting means for removably connection the suction headwith the integrated dust container to the suction duct.